Dogwood: Cornus florida: bark chewed for headache; bark & root infusion for worms & measles; infusion of beaten bark for bathing after “poisons of any kind”; stem & root decoction for blood purifier “blood chills”; infusion of flower taken to sweat out the flu; infusion of bark used by women for backache; root used as tonic

Pine: Pinus echinata: Needle tea high in vitamin C; Pitch tea used as laxative and for tuberculosis–carcinogenic; also kidney ailments causing backaches; use inner bark as a bandage—antibacterial; pine bark syrup as a cough syrup

Ragweed: Ambrosia artemisiafolia: common allergen causing hayfever; however, the cure is in the culprit: harvest and tincture before it flowers and use for allergies.

Sassafras albidum: One of 1st export crops, out-selling tobacco in 17th c. Used for colds, fever, arthritis, gout, high blood pressure, skin diseases, stomaches, diaphoretic. Used unsuccessfully to treat syphilis. Root bark tea was a famous spring blood purifying tonic; leaves & twigs used widely also as tea; powdered leaves added to gumbo at end of cooking time for flavor and thickening; safrole is converted into a carcinogen in rats, not humans.

Virginia creeper: Parthenocissus quinquefolia: plant causes dermatitis in some though used to counter poison ivy and sumac for others

Wild ginger: Asarumcanadense: leaves as poultice for cuts and boils. Infusion of root for GI upset. Indian tribes used for protection to ward away evil, especially if a sorcerer was trying to put harmful medicine into food. Circulatory stimulant, antibacterial, antifungal—aristolochia acid can damage the kidneys.

Foster, Stephen & Duke, James (1999). A field guide to medicinal plants and herbs of Eastern and Central North America. Peterson Field Guide.

Moerman, Daniel. (1998). Native American ethnobotany. Timber Press.

Warning:To the untrained eye, and even to the trained eye, plants can be difficult to tell apart. Some plants are toxic at low doses. Do not eat or use a plant medicinally for any purposes unless you are sure of the identity.

Pipsissewa, Chimaphila maculata

Vickery Creek Edible & Medicinal Plant Walk

The following is an example of the medicinal and edible plants one can find on an herb walk in Georgia. The list is comprised of plants found at the historic Vickery Creek Park which is divided between National Park Service and Roswell City Parks. Along the way, you can view the old Roswell Mill, work site of the Roswell women who made Confederate uniforms during the Civil War and were taken as war prisoners and shipped as chattel to the North. If you park behind the new Roswell Mill and in front of the covered bridge, you can enter the park via the lovely covered walking bridge.

Aster, woodland: Aster divaricatus: other Asters used extensively by Natives

Dogwood: Cornus florida: bark chewed for headache; bark & root infusion for worms & measles; infusion of beaten bark for bathing after “poisons of any kind”; stem & root decoction for blood purifier “blood chills”; infusion of flower taken to sweat out the flu; infusion of bark used by women for backache; root used as tonic

To the untrained eye, and even to the trained eye, plants can be difficult to tell apart. Some plants are toxic at low doses. Do not eat or use a plant medicinally for any purposes unless you are sure of the identity.